ENGAGING DEMOCRACY

The 2018 mid-term elections saw a record number of voters turn out to change the face of politics with the historic inclusion of more women and People of Color from the local to the federal levels. Join RACE TALKS as we kick off our 9th year anniversary with a call to get involved in activism. Meet staffers and some legislators from community-based organizations, city, metropolitan, state and federal sectors who will share:

How their political process works

The scope of their office and duties

How to contact their offices

What’s the best ways to impact their voting on an issue

How to maximize your involvement

How to start your own referendum

Schedules of meetings, dates and times

Q & A

There will be no formal small group discussions. After each speaker gives brief remarks and following the Question/Answer session, audience members will be given time to visit each speaker’s table.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

RACE TALKS is a free series co-sponsored by Donna Maxey (Founder/Director of RACE TALKS), World Arts Foundation, Resolutions Northwest, and McMenamins.

Spread the word. Please forward this information to any group, business, school, class, and individual you feel might be interested. Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.

NEXT MONTH’S RACE TALKS:

To be announced.

Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.

FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

Join us for a slide presentation and commentary by two local icons: Rev. Mark Knutson of Augustana Lutheran Church; and Tricia Tillman, Executive Coach & Consultant/Former Director, Multnomah County Public Health Department who journeyed the Civil Rights Trail through the Southern states.

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

RACE TALKS is a free series co-sponsored by Donna Maxey (Founder/Director of RACE TALKS), World Arts Foundation, Resolutions Northwest, and McMenamins.

Spread the word. Please forward this information to any group, business, school, class, and individual you feel might be interested. Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.

The 2018 mid-term elections saw a record number of voters turn out to change the face of politics with the historic inclusion of more women and People of Color from the local to the federal levels. Join RACE TALKS as we kick off our 9th year anniversary with a call to get involved in activism. Meet staffers and some legislators from community-based organizations, city, metropolitan, state and federal sectors who will share:

How their political process works

The scope of their office and duties

How to contact their offices

What’s the best ways to impact their voting on an issue

How to maximize your involvement

How to start your own referendum

Schedules of meetings, dates and times

Q & A

There will be no formal small group discussions. After each speaker gives brief remarks and following the Question/Answer session, audience members will be given time to visit each speaker’s table.

Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.

OVERTURNING MARIJUANA CONVICTIONS:
Equitizing Marijuana Convictions for the Poor and People of Color

In the past, many people were arrested for minor possession and smoking marijuana. A major portion of those arrested were the poor and People of Color, particularly African Americans. Mike Schmidt, Director of the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission will share the story of the marijuana arrest history in Oregon.

Now marijuana is legalized. Senator James Manning is introducing legislation to clear the previously criminal charges from the records of all Oregonians. Also, learn what opportunities are open today in the marijuana industry and how Green Hop Cannabis, co-owner, Karanja Crews, is using his love of hip hop music and teaching to educate others for future involvement in the cannabis business.

RACE TALKS is a free series co-sponsored by Donna Maxey (Founder/Director of RACE TALKS), World Arts Foundation, Resolutions Northwest, and McMenamins. Spread the word. Please forward this information to any group, business, school, class, and individual you feel might be interested. Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.

NEXT MONTH’S RACE TALKS:

DECEMBER: NO PROGRAM

JANUARY 2019: Travels Along the Civil Rights Trail

Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.

TRAGEDY ON THE MAX: ONE YEAR LATER

At tonight’s RACE TALKS, we’ll feature an in-depth discussion on the state of Portland one year after the tragedy that shook our city.

After a screening of the A&E series Divided States: Portland, which profiled the attack, the audience will hear from TriMet and Portland Police representatives will speak about what they are doing to guaranteed the public’s safety, particularly People of Color.

RACE TALKS is a free series co-sponsored by Donna Maxey (Founder/Director of RACE TALKS), World Arts Foundation, Resolutions Northwest, and McMenamins. Spread the word. Please forward this information to any group, business, school, class, and individual you feel might be interested. Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.

NEXT MONTH’S RACE TALKS:

TUESDAY, November 13, 2018

OVERTURNING MARIJUANA CONVICTIONS: Equitizing Opportunities for the Poor & People of Color Hear about new legislation in Oregon’s Legislature to de-criminalize prior convictions for marijuana smoking and minor possession.

Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.

Over 650 people attended RACE TALKS’ first Candidate Forum for Portland’s City Council Position 3 seat.

JoAnn Hardesty, Civil Rights Activist and Former Oregon State Representative or Loretta Smith, a current Multnomah County Commissioner, will be the first African American female Portland City Council Member. They discussed their vision for Portland at this historic event.

CANDIDATE FORUM: Portland’s First African-American Female City Council Member

RACE TALKS presents the first Candidate Forum for Portland’s City Council Position 3 seat. Join Loretta Smith, Multnomah County Commissioner, and JoAnn Hardesty, Civil Rights Activist and Former Oregon State Representative, who are vying for Portland’s City Council—Position 3. Either Hardesty or Smith will be the first African American female Portland City Council Member. With over 50 years of public service between them, these dynamic, highly qualified women have been on the front lines advocating on the public’s behalf.

The audience will hear from the candidates and then have the opportunity to ask questions.

Moderator:Tricia Tillman, former Director of Multnomah County Department of Health

August 14, 2018
McMenamins Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W. Burnside Street

Due to the overwhelming support and excitement for this incredible event, we have changed venues to McMenamins Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W. Burnside Street, where we can accommodate up to 700 attendees.

We encourage everyone to carpool or take public transportation as street parking is limited downtown, but there are numerous parking garages.

If you are an organization (secular or religious) that has a bus or van and would like to coordinate transportation for your group, we will reserve seating for your organization. Please email us at Race Talks, to notify us of your carpooling plans so we can reserve your seats.

RACE TALKS is a free series co-sponsored by Donna Maxey (Founder/Director of RACE TALKS), World Arts Foundation, Resolutions Northwest, and McMenamins. Spread the word. Please forward this information to any group, business, school, class, and individual you feel might be interested. Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.

NEXT MONTH’S RACE TALKS:

IMMIGRANTS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMTuesday, September 11, 2018

Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.

Opening the Great Outdoors to People of Color

Traditionally, People of Color have avoided many of the pleasures of “The Great American Outdoors.” Evidence shows that White populations disproportionately access public lands for outdoor recreation. Join us as we discover the underlying causes of this disparity and explore opportunities for families to learn about fishing, camping, backpacking, climbing and skiing from organizations specifically formed to introduce People of Color to the outdoors.

Also, a special treat! There will be a book signing by Park Ranger and author Vicente Harrison, of the children’s book My Nature Exploration, which follows little Harrison who discovers that he doesn’t have to travel far to gain an appreciation for nature right outside his own back door. Available for purchase on Amazon.

RACE TALKS is a free series co-sponsored by Donna Maxey (Founder/Director of RACE TALKS), World Arts Foundation, Resolutions Northwest, and McMenamins. Spread the word. Please forward this information to any group, business, school, class, and individual you feel might be interested. Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.

NEXT MONTH’S RACE TALKS:

TUESDAY, July 10, 2018PARALLEL LIVES ALONG N’CHEWANA

In Parallel Lives Along N’CheWana, Community icon and Native American Elder, Ed Edmo, and co-author Lani Roberts, a White retired professor, write about growing up in rural Oregon during the 1950s. Ed is Shoshone Bannock, Nez Perce, Yakama and Siletz and lived at the fishing village at Celilo Falls until its destruction in March 1957. Lani grew up six miles away just outside The Dalles, a descendant of an early settler family. Although they grew up in the same area and are the same age, their lives were lived in parallel fashion because of the differences in their ethnic heritage. During their childhoods, signs in the windows of businesses read, “No dogs or Indians allowed.” Their juxtaposed stories give a full picture of rural Oregon in the and the parallel lives they led along the N’CheWana River.

Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.

THE NEXT 100 YEARS:
Changing the Complexion and Gender of Golf

Presented by City of Portland Parks and Recreation Department:
Portland’s oldest public golf course turns 100 this year!
Traditionally a sport of wealthy white men, the City of Portland Park’s and Recreations Department is focusing on changing the face of the game!

Come learn the local and national history of People of Color in golf; explore the various golf instruction programs available to youth and women; find out about college scholarships through PDX Parks Golf.

RACE TALKS is a free series co-sponsored by Donna Maxey (Founder/Director of RACE TALKS), World Arts Foundation, Resolutions Northwest, and McMenamins. Spread the word. Please forward this information to any group, business, school, class, and individual you feel might be interested. Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.

NEXT MONTH’S RACE TALKS:

Tuesday, June 12, 2018OPENING THE GREAT OUTDOORS TO PEOPLE OF COLOR

Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.

MIND, BODY, SOUL
The Correlation of RACE and Health

According to a new study by the nonprofit organization Catalyst, 51-58% of all women of color and 60-64% of Black and Latino men pay an “emotional tax” due to micro-aggressions and exclusionary behavior in the workplace that’s detrimental to their overall health and ability to thrive. Join us to learn how to counteract this negative drain on your mind, body, and spirit with pointers on nutrition, spiritual practices, exercise and natural medicine.

Hear spiritual, health, and exercise experts Star Waters and Dr. Ose Okojie discuss how you can save your live and sanity through a vegan diet, spiritual practices, and exercise.

The first 50 POC will receive a copy of African American Vegan Starter Guide.

RACE TALKS is a free series co-sponsored by Donna Maxey (Founder/Director of RACE TALKS), World Arts Foundation, Resolutions Northwest, and McMenamins.

Spread the word. Please forward this information to any group, business, school, class, and individual you feel might be interested. Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.

NEXT MONTH’S RACE TALKS:

THE NEXT 100 YEARS: Changing the Complexion and Gender of Golf

Golf turns 100 this year! It has traditionally been the game of wealthy, White men, but the City of Portland Parks and Recreation Department is determined to change the face of the game! Come learn the history of People of Color in golf nationally and locally; explore the various programs for youth and women; and the opportunities for advancement academically and professionally; PRIZES & DRAWING!!!

THE BELOVED COMMUNITY

Living the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Join panel members from The Beloved Community: a Portland-area interfaith/interracial assembly that works to embody the principles of Dr. King’s Beloved Community through cooperation, friendship, goodwill and reconciliation as they share their individual programs and how you can start your own interfaith/interracial circle of friends and influence.

RACE TALKS is a free series co-sponsored by Donna Maxey (Founder/Director of RACE TALKS), World Arts Foundation, Resolutions Northwest, and McMenamins.

Spread the word. Please forward this email and poster to any group, business, school, class, and individual you feel might be interested. Contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the upcoming program or the series in general.